The562’s coverage of Jordan Athletics is sponsored by former LBUSD superintendent Chris Steinhauser.
It’s not a true brotherhood growing up without competition, especially when it comes to sports. The saying goes that the older brother always wins, and that’s exactly how it went for Jordan’s coach Chris Francis and his older brother Timothy “Hamma” Francis Jr..
Being just a year younger, Chris found himself on the bad end of many one-on-one’s growing up as the pair shared a similar passion for basketball. But as the two brother’s grew into their high school basketball coaching careers, the new question became, which brother would win as coaches?
The brother’s finally matched up as coaches Friday night, with Chris’s Panthers taking on Timothy’s LA Jordan Bulldogs. The teams fought in a close matchup, but the Panthers were able to win the battle between Jordan’s, 66-57.
“It’s just a lot of respect we have for each other since we both love the game,” said Chris Francis about facing his brother. “We both wanted to make our dad proud, he passed away back in 2020 and he always told my brother that he would never beat me coaching and my dad was right.”
Coincidentally, Francis wasn’t the only brother who came out on top Friday night, as Long Beach Jordan athletic director Lamar Biffle was on the winning side of his brother Van Myers, who’s the athletic director at LA Jordan.
The pairs of brothers have become good friends through their years and have even crossed paths before. Back in 2004, Chris Francis beat Myers in a CIF championship, which he still holds over him to this day. All of the connections and crossing of paths built up an eager and friendly environment at Jordan ahead of the two teams’ matchup.
“There was a lot of history here. It was a family atmosphere but it was actually a good game too, a really good game,” said Francis.
J-Town opened up the game hot, jumping out to a quick lead on a 9-0 run to open the game. Through the first minutes it looked as if the Panthers could pull away early, as they smothered the Bulldogs with their full-court press and took advantage on fast break opportunities.
However, LA Jordan would soon settle down, going on a 13-4 run of their own to tie it up at 13 apiece after the first quarter. The Bulldogs would continue to fight back in the second, as Ceyahton Francis’s six second-quarter points left LA Jordan trailing by just two points heading into the half.
“We said at half time that we had to get our energy up, our effort back up, and our confidence back up,” said Francis. “We felt like they were more physical than us, and the physicality started to favor them. So mid game we just wanted to get back to playing Jordan basketball which is being quick and decisive with good anticipation. We were gambling trying to block shots and steal the ball and that’s not what we do. That’s undisciplined basketball and that’s not what we preach or teach.”
The Panthers stuttered to get back into rhythm, giving up their lead numerous times in the third quarter before they finally exploded in the fourth.
Despite battling a foot injury, Jaymari Redmond was able to turn on the jets in the final period, scoring six of his 16 total points with two chances at three-point plays. Redmond also dished the ball around to the outside, setting up Benjamin Taylor Jr. and Noel Alverez for two huge three’s in the fourth quarter after the Panthers had struggled from behind the arch earlier in the game.Jordan eventually recaptured their lead before going on to win it.
“Tonight my foot was hurting badly but I knew we wouldn’t lose this game,” said Redmond. “My mindset was to just go be a dog, do what I do. I can score and I can pass the ball. So, if I can score I’ll go score and if I can pass, then I’ll get it to my shooters on the team. It was a dog fight, but I knew my team would come out with the win.”
“He’s battling a foot injury right now but he’s a warrior. He’s the heart and soul of our team. We go as he goes. He willed us to a win in my opinion so I’m proud of Jaymari because he was not 100% tonight but he gutted it out. He’s one of those Redmond boys and that’s what they do.”
The Panthers will resume Moore league play at home against Compton on Tuesday.
